FOREST IN NEPAL

The forest has an important role to play in the development and support of Nepalese economy. It resource can also have a great importance in improving the life standard of people by helping them to earn through their involvement in the possibilities created by biodiversity and ecological situation. We can not underestimate the importance of forest resources for a country like ours. That is agricultural and where industries based on agricultural products are developing. It is important for rain needed for agriculture. For growth in productivity and for flood control. It has a close relationship with animal husbandry which is an important basis for the livelihood of Nepali people. People from Terai to the mountains have adopted animal husbandry as the main source of economic basis. It is the main source of energy in the absence of alternative sources of energy. There are many Nepalese have made forest the main source of their income. Against this background, development of forest area, its protection and conservation has become an important subject. In both global and Nepalese context forest area has decreased compared to the past, desertification has increased, animals in nature have become extinct, environmental degradation has created many problems. There are many obstacles have been created for sustainable development. These are the common problems faced by the entire world. This situation of the forest has affected the whole issue of development directly or indirectly.

Forest area has an important role to play in the preservation of the environment and its balance, the situation of the forest has been degrading since a few year. The gradual decrease in the forests are from the past to the present has had a negative impact on the environment, sustainable development and the entire process of development. Now, the percent of forest area out of the total area is 39.6%. In later times, forest area has increased with the development of the concept of the community forest.

The encroachment of forest is increasing due to population growth, Human dependence on it has been increasing for fuel in the absence of alternative energy and because of the compulsion to use the forest as an economic basis of life. There is a greater use of timber in most of the housing management. The encroachment on the forest is increasing due to the use of more wood in low-level families, the system of living separately prevalent in Nepalese society and the concept that every family should have a house of its own. Because of nationalization of forest for a long time its relation with people was broken, there was timber smuggling during the time of political change, the involvement of high-level administrators in the smuggling of wood were the causes, behind the destruction of the forest. Besides, Malaria eradication program in the Terai, rehabilitation program, development of Transportation, open border with India are also responsible for the continual destruction of the forest.

The Forest of Nepal are divided into three categories, they are Tropical Evergreen, Deciduous, and Coniferous. In each forest area, there are different natural vegetable and animals. These forests of different natures hold different possibilities. The forest resources of difference kinds have a positive impact on the diverse aspects of human life. It area holds important possibilities for the development tourism. It can be a shelter for near extinct or a small number of plants and animals in the world. Still it is directly a basis for life for Nepalese.

The role of the state has remained very important in the development of forest in Nepal. There are different action plans have been formulated in different plans for the development of the forest. Looking at the history of the development of forest, during Rana Regime, Rana used the forest for their own wishes and welfare. They imported and exported many forest products. The sal forest of Terai was destroyed to supply timber for the railway in India.